Rail

NJ Transit unveils dual-powered locomotives

A groundbreaking, first-of-a-kind locomotive made its long-anticipated debut in New Jersey recently thanks to the assistance of STV, enabling NJ Transit to take advantage of a locomotive that not only conserves fuel and reduces emissions and noise, but also increases operational flexibility across both electrified and non-electrified territories.

The ALP-45DP, also known as a Dual Powered Locomotive, is the first locomotive in the U.S. to be powered by the overhead catenary or by its twin diesel engines. Demonstrating its versatility, the first ALP-45DP locomotive to run on NJ Transit arrived at Montclair State University Station in Montclair, N.J., under diesel power, raised its pantograph arm to make contact with the overhead catenary wire and left the station for Hoboken Terminal under electric power.

STV provided design, inspection and test engineering support services for this initiative, which also extends north of the border to Canada where the same vehicles are being procured for Agence Métropolitaine de Transport in Montreal. The locomotives are being manufactured by Bombardier in Kassel, Germany.

The new locomotives also offer better acceleration and lower exhaust emissions than NJ Transit's current diesel equipment. In diesel mode, the vehicles can reach 100 mph, and in electric mode, 125 mph. The switch from diesel to electric mode takes approximately 100 seconds.

Rail Operations is currently in the process of replacing all stub end tracks at Hoboken Terminal with new sliding friction bumper blocks, as well as advancing a speed control system for trains entering Hoboken Terminal.

The $99 million streetcar opened in December 2014 amid sky-high expectations, but ridership failed to meet expectations in its first year and plummeted nearly 60% after the city began charging $1 to ride.